Objective:

To understand how weather affects us as pilots and be able to use the weather services available for Go/No Go decision making. We will also discus the different weather reports (text) and charts to interpret the information available to us. This will be discussed in greater detail in IFR training.

Elements:

1. Structure of the atmosphere
2. Atmospheric Pressure
3. Temperature
4. Density Altitude
5. Wind patterns and convective currents
6. Stability
7. Clouds
8. Visibility
9. Fronts
10. Weather information sources (FSS)
11. Obtaining a weather Briefing
12. METAR, TAF, Winds Aloft
13. VFR MVFR Weather Minimums
14. Weather Hazards and pitfalls

References:

• Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, chapters 10 & 11

Notes:

Standard Atmosphere Conditions:
    - 29.92 in.
    - 1013.2 millibars (1" = 34mb)
    - 59°F
    - 15°C (°F = °C × 1.8 + 32)
High Pressure (Clockwise and Out) VS. Low Pressure (Counterclockwise and In)
"High to low... Look out below"

-	Flying into cold air has the same effect as flying into a low pressure area; that is, the aircraft is lower than the altimeter indicates.

Cloud Base = ((temp - dew point) ÷ 4.4) × 1000

KDAB 172053Z 24008KT 10SM FEW065 27/10 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP166 T02670100 56024

KDAB 171727Z 171818 28008KT P6SM SKC
   FM0000 27005KT P6SM SKC
   FM0700 32005KT P6SM FEW050
   FM1400 01010KT P6SM FEW040

FT  3000    6000    9000   12000   18000   24000  30000  34000  39000
JAX 2919 2921+08 3130+01 3039-01 3055-13 2979-24 298641 298651 288656
MLB 2511 2917+10 2931+06 3040+01 3055-11 2950-23 295841 306550 297153
PIE 3209 3421+10 3034+08 3039+01 3052-12 2948-23 296340 307049 297454
TLH 3118 2921+09 3130+05 3140+00 3153-14 2972-24 298241 288851 299158

Printer Fiendly